IKEA Chair Hack: Boho Rattan Chair Makeover
We’ve had an Ikea Pello chair for a while, and really when you think about it, who hasn’t? The Poang and Pello chairs are some of the most recognizable IKEA chairs. They’re affordable, durable and SO comfortable.
It may be due to all these qualities, but they have become ubiquitous – and quite frankly, lost their appeal. When you see something everywhere, the hype quickly morphs into boredom. So we turn to hacks and makeovers to bring a personal touch to our furniture – and this Ikea chair hack promises to bring loads of personality!
Find the detailed step-by-step here!
All it takes is a bit of flat rattan and some gel stain, making this a super cheap makeover! Rattan is easily findable and you can do so many cool DIYs with it.
To start off, wrap rattan reeds around the armrests, using some hot glue to hold it down. I wrapped both the front of the armrests (the curve where your hands might rest) and the back of the armrest.
Next, I wrapped the rattan around the legs, both horizontally and vertically on the front stretcher (that’s the central support between the 2 legs). Check out the blog post for tips on how to deal with the front stretcher while wrapping!
I added “God’s Eye” knots to the sides and on the stretcher. These cross-shaped embellishments are typical of cane furniture, where they’re usually used to hold the rattan canes together. On this IKEA chair hack, they’re purely decorative – and they’re much easier to create than they look!
Start by turning the chair over onto its side. This way, one leg will rest against the floor while the leg you’re working on will be horizontal and much easier to work with.
First, glue the end of a rattan reed to the back of the chair. Bring it to the front and to the right of the stretcher. Next, pull it to the back and up. From this position, bring it to the front and to the left of the stretcher. This motion will create an inverted V shape like in the picture above. Repeat this pattern 4 or 5 times before securing the reed at the back of the leg with some hot glue.
I also added a God's Eye knot to the front stretcher. Since this knot is larger and takes up the entire width of the stretcher, you’ll need to repeat the weaving motion 7 or 8 times until the God’s Eye is full and you can’t weave any longer.
Finally, apply a couple of coats of gel stain in a light or golden oak color to complete the rattan chair look. Let the stain dry well between coats.
And voila, Ikea Chair hack complete! All you need to perfect the boho look is to change the cushion cover. I opted for making my own, but you can find some very pretty covers online if you're not keen on sewing.
Find me on Pinterest for more easy DIY ideas!
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I wish you would show the end product picture at the beginning - this was not worth scrolling through and waiting for pics to load.
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Nice! I was going to get rid of my Ikea pong chair, but I think I’ll hold on to it. I’d love to redo it like yours
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I really love how the chair turned out! The God's Eye detailing gives it a thoughtful, finished look.
Where did you get the gorgeous material for the cushion cover..??? It's really pretty!!!
how did you wrap the riser where it met the stretcher?
Luv that dresser…but, I’m looking for something to turn into vanity in bath. Where do I find this info & tutorial?? TY